Ship Fam! A Guide to the Holy Ship EDM Cruise's Fan Cult

Holy Ship!!!: The Pre-Party Heard 'Round the World
First-timer and veteran Shippers all anxiously counted the days to Holy Ship!!! 2014, and the Buntings soon found themselves planning another Ship Fam unofficial pre-party. But while the tradition had started as a small gathering of 75 or so in 2013, the guest list exploded into the hundreds this year. And the Ship Fam parents realized they'd need a bigger space than a Marriot hotel room.

So they booked downtown Miami's Avenue D, lined up fifteen Shipper DJs, ordered 100 pizzas and threw "a tear-up-the-floor, killer rager for fourteen flippin' hours." Some partiers who attended the official pre-party at Story actually left the luxurious club to return to the Bunting's Ship Fam reunion, preferring the free and friendly vibe.

Already, Avenue D's management has extended an invitation to host again in 2015, and the Buntings are dedicated to reprise the party every year if they can.

"We did this out of our own pockets and our own hearts, because we really love our Ship Fam," Stephanie gushes. "We live in an abundant universe. So what the hell? it will come back to us."

Photo Courtesy: Stephanie and Robert Bunting

The Buntings pose with a collection of triple-OG Ship Fam members. Everyone pictured has sailed aboard every edition of Holy Ship to date.

Ship Fam of the Future
Aboard Holy Ship!!! 2014, the Ship Fam movement was bigger than ever before, but the PLUR-y feels took a bit of a hit.

"Some of the newbs, they can't stand the idea of the originals calling themselves the OGs It's almost like contention," Stephanie says, arguing that these new kids miss the point. "We're not trying to be some exclusive group. It bothers me when kids say that, because now, you're part of the magic, too! You're OG."

As Ship Fam and the rest of the world continue to sail through 2014, the Buntings and their growing network of Shipper pals will continue to obsess over the next big weekend. They'll continue to plot and plan the adventure of a lifetime, despite what the haters have to say. They'll never stop extending a hand in friendship to the next group of lucky passengers, and they'll keep on helping buddies far and wide in any way they can. And when you ask the Buntings how long they plan on making the trip?